A model is presented which explains the forces between charges in uniform motion in a novel way, without reference to magnetism or special relativity. Building on Coulomb’s law of electrostatics, the model explains the magnitude and the direction of such forces in terms of changes in the flow of information from one charge to the other resulting from their acceleration histories. The model enables a deeper understanding of the forces between moving charges than classical electromagnetism, which notably leaves the origin of the magnetic field unexplained. It also offers fresh insights into the foundations of special relativity. In particular, the model provides a simple and direct explanation of how the forces between charges in uniform motion are transformed in a way that is consistent with length contraction. The model also implies that, in the framework of special relativity, events with equal time coordinates are in general not simultaneous. Some implications of this finding for causality, the “block universe” idea and the Andromeda paradox are briefly discussed.